Hill initially injured his back during the Lakers' season opener against the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 7. Hill scored 10 points and grabbed three rebounds in 20 minutes in the loss, but has not seen action since.
Entering his fourth season in the NBA, Hill was signed to a two-year, $7 million contract this offseason after he proved to be an effective big man off the bench last season for Los Angeles.
The 6'10, 235 pound forward was traded to the Lakers from the Houston Rockets and earned playing time toward the end of the 2011-12 regular season. A 14-point, 15-rebound performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder solidified his place in Mike Brown's rotation, and Hill went on to average 18 minutes per game in the postseason.
Hill will likely miss practice over the next two weeks as he tries to rehabilitate the injury, although the timetable for his return will depend on how his back responds to the treatment.
The Lakers acquired Hill in a deal with the Rockets at last season's trade deadline, and he emerged as a reliable back-up at both the power forward and center positions, averaging 5 points and 6 rebounds on 43 percent shooting in the post-season.
LA signed Hill to a 2-year, $8 million contract in the off-season and they're counting on him to provide rebounding and athleticism behind Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol.
Lakers power forward Jordan Hill was diagnosed with a herniated disk in his back on Monday, according to Ben Bolch of the LA Times. The team has yet to say whether Hill will be undergoing surgery for the condition, or how much time he may miss. Dwight Howard was diagnosed with the same injury last April, and missed the rest of the season.
A fourth year big man out of Arizona, Hill had been one of the most impressive performers in training camp, according to head coach Mike Brown. Hill signed a two year, $7 million contract at the end of last season on the heels of a strong finish to the year. He was excited to go out and prove that he is worth the money:
"We have enough scorers, enough All-Stars," Hill said. "We just have to have that guy to come off the bench with a lot of energy, a lot of activity who likes to run the floor, protect the paint and use his athleticism. I just want to go out there and have fun and do what I have to do."
